Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
| Domain | Definition |
Health | A course or method of action selected, usually by a government, from among alternatives to guide and determine present and future decisions. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
The crucial, central part of public policy is to try to assure that the interests of wealthy and powerful people are never aided by pain, misery or suffering in other groups. There are some general rules of thumb about how this should be accomplished:
Journalists should be free to report about anything at all. Market forces will drive them to communicate to masses of people about major social problems. In time, adjustments will be found for these problems. While this frequently annoys the wealthy and powerful, they themselves also benefit from the information, and improved society.
The basic political structure of a group should be controlled in some fashion by people with ordinary amounts of wealth and no power. If this group does not have control, it will create rebels and organize, especiually if modern communications methods are available. While this definitely annoys the wealthy and powerful, it also is the only known method of creating a stable government. Since social stability is essential to the creation and maintenance of wealth and power, it directly benefits wise members of wealthy and powerful groups.
Since government administration can be a real specialty, the most long lasting governments generally assign it to specialists, and yet give ordinary citizens some say in the decisions and selection of the specialists. This is called a republic.
The government should be subject to law, in such a way that it can be predicted and controlled. Again, this is a two-edged sword that both hampers and benefits the wealthy and powerful. The advantage to the poor and weak is that they can form common cause and use legal means to redress major social wrongs.
In general, the government's deliberations, laws and budget should be published. Without this, the above safeguards may fail.
A free market creates extremes of both wealth and poverty. However, it is so much more efficient than other systems that it should be encouraged to be the primary means to distribute wealth. The government generally ajudicates contracts and regulates fair weights and measures. More recently, governments have regulated industrial wastes. One of the more successful programs has issued permits for a fixed tonnage of a pollutant, and established a market in permits. Private groups are permitted to purchase and retire pollution permits. As well, polluters then have an incentive to invest in technology to reduce pollutants and sell their permits.
Some networks and services have positive economies of scale. That is, as they are more widely used, they become more valuable. The classic examples are money, weights and measures, roads, a common language, public education, and an agreed public ethical system. With industrialization, a large number of other situations have developed positive economies of scale: screw profiles, a thousand types of industrial linkages and methods, networks to provide credit, water, electric power, gas, sewage, telephone and data, computer operating systems, computer languages, and media.
The most advantageous regulation seems to be for the government to wait for a standard to predominate in the market, then require use of the prominent standard, and suppress the rest. This can be done benignly by simply having the government refuse to purchase other standards.
This method was used from antiquity until the European religious wars of the 1700s trained western society to value freedom.
The classic method seems to retain all of its ancient advantages for industrial standards, even though it arguably fails for religion and ethics. The classic method succeeded for measures, and eventually, even for a calendar. A universal money, gold was once available. An auxiliary language, such as Esperanto may also be possible.
One of the most valuable, peculiar and complex networks is a network for credit. Traditionally, this was centered on a national bank that certified subscribers. A credit network allows money to flow anywhere in the countries that subscribe. The advantage is that regional economies have access to more credit when they need to borrow to plant crops or improve structures (both are seasonal in many areas). In the past, in such situations, regional banks would often lend all their money, and then stop lending because no more money was available. This limits production, as well as limiting recovery from natural disasters.
Successful governments develop means to perform a military defense of their regions. The wealthy and powerful limit the power of these groups by inculcating (and perhaps believing) propaganda about civic duties. Many long-term republics supplement this with a civil militia, and political and military structures that are not centralized, and therefore not easy to conquer or subvert.
Successful governments develop regulations to preserve health and safety. The more notable successes are public sanitation, drinking-water, health-education, vaccination and quarantine programs, and building codes.
Successful governments develop means to provide some minimal care for paupers and during emergencies. The level of care can be extremely crude, as long as it is not life-threatening. The classic, relatively successful programs are social security, with private investment, unemployment insurance paid for by workers, and some sort of civil defense or emergency program. The emergency and civil defense programs can be far more effective if made part of education and building codes.Freedom of the Press
Republican Government
A government of law, not men
A free market
Adoption of positive economies of scale
Military defense
Health and safety
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Public policy."
Synonym: PUBLIC POLICYSynonym: National policy. (additional references) |
Crosswords: PUBLIC POLICY |
| English words defined with "PUBLIC POLICY": augur, auspex. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "PUBLIC POLICY": Census Information Center, CNSTAT ♦ DIRECTOR, COUNCIL ON AGING ♦ regional coordinator for aging. (references) |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit |  | AIDS Impact On Public Policy. Credit: National Library of Medicine. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | The incorporation of acupuncture as a treatment raises numerous questions of public policy. (references) | |
These public policy issues must be founded on quality epidemiologic and demographic data and effectiveness research. (references) | ||
The public policy statement supports the use of apoE testing for diagnostic purposes only in conjunction with other tests during medical evaluations of patients who show AD symptoms. (references) | ||
Business | The board therefore implements public policy. (references) | |
Spain applies the "freedom of contract" theory, by which the contracting parties may establish any stipulation, condition, or undertake anything that it does not violate Spanish law, morals, or public policy. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Pakistan | Privately owned newspapers freely discuss public policy and criticize the Government. (references) |
United Arab Emirates | The Federal Constitution also provides for the freedom to exercise religious worship in accordance with established customs, provided that it does not conflict with public policy or violate public morals. (references) | |
Kuwait | The Constitution also provides that the State protect the freedom to practice religion in accordance with established customs, "provided that it does not conflict with public policy or morals." Islam is the state religion. (references) | |
Economic History | Slovenia | For all the apparent bitterness that divides left and right wings, there are few fundamental philosophical differences between them in the area of public policy. (references) |
Azerbaijan | The new Civil Procedure Code also provides that foreign arbitral awards may be enforced in Azerbaijan so long as they do not contravene legislation or public policy, and if reciprocity exists. (references) | |
Chile | However, the Lagos government is making proposals to Congress designed to encourage the use of the Internet and electronic commerce, such as making on-line signatures and have made statements to suggest that public policy will be designed to encourage investment in development in Chile. (references) | |
Human Rights | Guatemala | The report noted significant advances such as the end of the pattern and practice of human rights violations perpetrated as government policy during the civil war, increased political participation, the incorporation of previously excluded sectors of civil society in the development and implementation of public policy, the initiation of the process of demilitarization, and the taking of steps to establish the truth about the fundamental violations that were a cause and a consequence of the conflict. (references) |
Political Economy | Congo | The Government permitted opposition political parties and nongovernmental organizations (NGO's), including human rights organizations, to function, and there was a relatively open dialog on public policy issues. (references) |
Jordan | Citizens may participate in the political system through their elected representatives in Parliament; however, the King has discretionary authority to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and upper house of Parliament, to dissolve Parliament, and to establish public policy. (references) | |
Political Rights | Dominican Republic | The President often dominates public policy formulation and implementation. (references) |
Maldives | For the past several years, the Majlis has held a question period during which members may question government ministers about public policy. (references) | |
Trade | Thailand | Since the onset of the financial crisis in 1997, the World Bank's assistance to Thailand has focused on three major objectives to restore sustainable and more equitable growth: 1) renewing competitiveness of Thailand's private sector and labor force; 2) improving governance through enhanced private and public sector management, and 3) sharing growth and ensuring quality of life by protecting the vulnerable and targeting the poor and improving environmental management . The Bank supports Government efforts in these areas through a combination of lending, guarantees, technical assistance, and policy advice . Other forms of Bank support include analytical reports, policy notes, a program of international knowledge exchange, and public policy seminars. (references) |
Women | Paraguay | Other groups include SUMANDO, an NGO that promotes educational reform and voter participation in elections; and SEFEM, which focuses on women and public policy and the participation of women in local development. (references) |
Mauritania | It is a clear public policy of the Government, through the Secretariat of Women's Affairs, that FGM should be eliminated, and the Government bars hospitals from performing it. Public health workers and NGO's educate women on the dangers of FGM and on the fact that FGM is not a requirement of Islam. (references) | |
Worker Rights | Cyprus | In both communities, trade unions freely and regularly take stands on public policy issues affecting workers and maintain their independence from the authorities. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
Grover Cleveland | 1885-1889; 1893-1897 | To secure the fitness and competency of appointees to office and remove from political action the demoralizing madness for spoils, civil-service reform has found a place in our public policy and laws. |
Dwight Eisenhower | 1953-1961 | Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite. |
Jimmy Carter | 1977-1981 | As public policy is developed and implemented by the Federal government, cognizance of the work of the Conference should be taken as a pragmatic and essential step. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Expression using "PUBLIC POLICY": contrary to the public policy. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "PUBLIC POLICY"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | udnyttelse,der strider mod sædelighed eller offentlig orden (exploitation contrary to public policy or morality), overholdelse af ordre public (due regard to public policy), begrundet i hensynet til den offentlige saedelighed,den offentlige orden,den offentlige sikkerhed (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | toepassing strijdig met de openbare orde of de goede zeden (exploitation contrary to public policy or morality), theorie van de verzwakte werking van de openbare orde (idea of the attenuated effect of public policy), met de openbare orde strijdige beslissing (the judgement is contrary to public policy), inachtneming van de openbare orde (due regard to public policy), gerechtvaardigd uit hoofde van bescherming van de openbare zedelijkheid,de openbare orde,de openbare veiligheid (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security), eerbiediging van de openbare orde (due regard to public policy). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | politique générale, ordre public, intérêt public. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | Unvereinbarkeit der Entscheidung mit der öffentlichen Ordnung (the judgement is contrary to public policy), Theorie der abgeschwächten Wirkung der öffentlichen Ordnung (idea of the attenuated effect of public policy), gegen die öffentliche Ordnung oder die guten Sitten verstoßende Verwertung (exploitation contrary to public policy or morality), aus Gruenden der oeffentlichen Sittlichkeit,Ordnung und Sicherheit gerechtfertigt (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | σεβασμός της δημοσίας τάξεως (due regard to public policy), εκμετάλλευση που αντίκειται στη δημόσια τάξη ή στα χρηστά ήθη (exploitation contrary to public policy or morality), δικαιολογούνται από λόγους δημοσίας ηθικής,δημοσίας τάξεως,δημοσίας ασφαλείας (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | teoria dell'effetto attenuato dell'ordine pubblico (idea of the attenuated effect of public policy), sfruttamento contrario all'ordine pubblico o al buon costume (exploitation contrary to public policy or morality), sentenza contraria all'ordine pubblico (the judgement is contrary to public policy), rispetto dell'ordine pubblico (due regard to public policy), giustificato da motivi di moralita'pubblica,di ordine pubblico,di pubblica sicurezza (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | ublicpay olicypay respeito da ordem pública (due regard to public policy), justificadas por razões de moralidade pública,ordem pública e segurança pública (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security), exploração contrária ordem pública ou aos bons costumes (exploitation contrary to public policy or morality). (various references) contrar interesului public (contrary to the public policy). (various references) respeto del orden público (due regard to public policy), justificado por razones de orden público, moralidad y seguridad pública (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security), explotación contraria al orden público o a las buenas costumbres (exploitation contrary to public policy or morality). (various references) som grundas på hänsyn till allmän moral,allmän ordning eller allmän säkerhet (justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security). (various references) kamu yararını gözeten politika. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "b-c-c-i-i-l-l-o-p-p-u-y" | |
-4 letters: publicly. | |
-5 letters: bucolic, cubicly, pulpily. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Synonyms 2. Crosswords 3. Usage: Commercial 4. Images: Photo Album | 5. Quotations: Non-fiction 6. Quotations: Speeches 7. Expressions 8. Expressions: Internet | 9. Translations: Modern 10. Anagrams 11. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
